Movable paper machine hood

ABSTRACT

The fourdrinier section of a papermaking apparatus is isolated from the remainder by a completely removable encompassing hood cover or housing, having disengaging vent means, isolating the moisture-generating initial period. The hood is of one or several sections where each is movable, one telescoping into another, and the single or telescoped unit adapted to be powered for movement in a desired direction to provide full access to the uncovered section.

United States Patent Inventor James L. Bryant Dorval, Robert Baldwin County, Quebec, Canada Appl. No. 765,105

Filed Oct. 4, 1968 Patented Aug. 10, I971 Assignee Midland-Ross Corporation Cleveland, Ohio MOVABLE PAPER MACHINE HOOD 6 Claims, 14 Drawing 1 1;

US. ('1 98/33 R, 98/40 R, 98/1 15 R, 52/67 1110 at 1 241 13/00 molsdlldl ..9s/115,115 VM, 33, 40; 62/237; 52/67, 64

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,433 2/1933 Windeknecht 52/67 809,645 1/1906 Treat 98/H5VM 2,137,862 11/1938 Steins 98/ll5SB 2,535,707 12/1950 Vezey 98/ll5K Primary ExaminerMeyer Perlin Attorneys-Thomas S. Mayner and lrvin L. Groh ABSTRACT: The fourdrinier section of a papermaking apparatus is isolated from the remainder by a completely removable encompassing hood cover or housing, having disengaging vent means, isolating the moisture-generating initial period. The hood is of one or several sections where each in movable, one telescoping into another, and the single or telescoped unit adapted to be powered for movement in 13 desireddirection to provide full access to the uncovered section.

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INVENTOR. JAMES L. BRYANT BY 71mm 5 MW ATTORNEY PATENTED AUG 1 019m SHEET 0 [1F ATTORNEY PATENTED AUG 1 0 l97| SHEET 05 0F INVENTOR. JAMES L. BRYANT ATTO R N EY PATENTEU Am: I 0 um SHEET 05 0F lfmlllllm FIG. IO

INVENTOR. JAMES L. BRYAN T BY 7m 5 MW ATTORNEY PATENTEDAUBIOIQH $598,039

SHEET 07 up 10 INVENTOR. JAMES L. BRYANT BY 7W5. MW

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mvamox JAMES L. BRYANT 7W 5. Mam

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sum 10 [1F 10 E j j 5| mm 1, //////7//////// -HEAT ER m EXHAxuST FIG. l4

EXHAUST 4 86 EXHAUST HEAD BOX l l/74 54f 6y L SUPPLY\ Q /SUPPLY 57 1,

I 59s flez WEB ((13 (CDT (in; U? 1mg THTHLTAWHWTWFEH y 1' W v lf e se 8| T L 79 TELESCOPING HOOD INVENTOR. JAMES L. BRYANT BY 7% 5. MW

ATTORNEY MOVABLE PAPER MACHINE HOOD This invention generally relates to paper-manufacturing apparatus and more particularly to a flexible enclosure of the fourdrinier section where the pulp slurry is initially laid out and where the temperature and humidity are high, to isolate this are a from the rest of the manufacturing area.

In view of the high temperature and humidity of the atmosphere about a fourdrinier section the adjacent area is a difficult and uncomfortable section in which to work. This is becoming increasingly so with continued improvements in papermaking where speed is continually accelerated as a higher and higher production is demanded. The manufacturing area required in papermaking is quite large so to air-condition a complete building is a practical impossibility. It was also thought impractical to completely isolate or confine sections of the manufacturing process since all parts had to be made readily accessible. An attempt at the isolation by cover of the press section has been tried but proved only fairly successful as evidenced by a number of patents to provide for effective hooding including a ready accessibility of the fourdrinier section but the problem has not yet been practically solved. A sta tionary hood with access doors has not provided a complete answer for over the sheet-forming section nor one with removable walls inasmuch as the entire fourdrinier area generally must be exposed and made accessible particularly when changing a wire belt. In addition to the obvious advantage of totally enclosing the wet end" of the papermaking apparatus is the further one of economy for air volumes since it requires the handling ofa large volume of air to be effective and the air curtain method is expensive and but only partly successful.

Where there may be a lack of room beyond the wet section, a sectioned or telescoping hood rather than a larger single unit, as described in the present invention can be moved; either or several sections within the other and powered, thus not requiring additional space.

The aforesaid improvement and others will be more ap parent from the following descriptions, where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation, showing the closed hood surrounding the fourdrinier and showing the hood fully telescoped and retracted in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 showing the rear rails;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken approximately on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the supply and exhaust duet;

FIG. 4 is a section taken approximately on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the fourdrinier, headbox, simplified and the hood rails;

FIG. 5 is a plan view with parts broken away showing the supply and exhaust duct;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation taken on line 66 of FIG. 4 show ing the downstream door and hood rails;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5 showing further detail ofthe supply duct and hood rails;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5 showing detail of the exhaust hood and hood rail;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 99 of FIG. 3 showing further enlarged detail of the rail and rear drive;

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 3 showing the front hood drive;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1, showing the closed telescoping hood surrounding the fourdrinier with the headbox on the upstream end and a fragment of a web dryer on the downstream end;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the larger hood telescoped over the smaller hood segment giving clear work ing access to the downstream end of the fourdrinier;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, showing the hood fully telescoped and retracted to the upstream end thus giving clear access to the entire fourdrinier and headbox; and

FIG. I4 is a schematic showing the supply and exhaust duct with its associated disconnects-the hood, web and headbox being shown in phantom lines.

Reference is now made to FIG. I, where the hood A is shown surrounding a fourdrinier apparatus B located upstream of a web press section C and downstream of a headbox D, all located in a building E. Pulp slurry is continuously poured out onto a pervious reticulated fourdrinier belt in a predetermined depth from the headbox, the liquid separating from the pulp dropping into a collecting drain 47 below.

Since the slurry volume is generally substantial and the temperature quite high the atmosphere about and above the fourdrinier soon fills with vapor which must be removed. Accord ing to this invention it is entrapped and collected in the enclo sure or hood A wherein a collecting airstream is effected and the vapors entrained and pulled out.

A fourdrinier section of a papermaking machine sometimes extends over a hundred feet so a hood over it comprises a substantial structure. Being rather extensive and movable it was found best to subdivide the enclosure in the interest of economy of space. Again, since it is fairly large and since it must be made movable it is desirably positioned on rails and made self powered. In a situation where a wall can be used and constitutes a side, a supporting rail can be mounted off the base floor while its parallel complement is affixed to the floor or embedded in it. The enclosing, telescoping hood assembly A shows such structure where the far side is supported on rail assembly F and the near side or front on the wheel and rail assembly G. The far or rear wall H of the hood assembly A obviously must be stationary since it is being utilized for supporting the far or rear rail assembly F, the air supply I and exhaust .I.

The fully extended telescoping hood A in this representation comprises at least two sections 10, 11, although one longer section or three or even possibly more shorter ones may be required. The larger section 10 in this instance is selfpower driven and the second or idler section II merely wheel mounted for movement. Hood section 10 is closed on the downstream end by sliding door or a movable panel I2 and by a panel 15 (FIG. 3) on the upstream end meeting the top of the headbox D. Access for inspection purposes is provided to the fourdrinier B by suitable side doors 13. The hood section 10 supports a series of drive motors 14 on the far or rear side and associated transmissions 16 as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The far side or rear dive assembly operates truck wheels 17 through sprockets I8, chain I9 and sprockets 21. Idler wheels 22 are provided against rail 23 to maintain alignment. The near truck wheels 24 are driven in a similar fashion over the rails G by motors 26, chain 27 and sprocket 28.

Hood II is similarly constructed with supporting nonpowered truck wheels 29 and guide rolls 31 on the far operating side on rail 32. The front truck wheels 33 roll on a floor mounted rail 34 similar to wheels 24, providing clear access to the fourdrinier when the hood A is retracted. The far rails for both hoods I0 and 11 are supported against the stationary rear wall H being supported on vertical structural beams 36 to which are secured offset brackets 37 mounting the rails F.

Spaced push-pull stops 38, 39 are provided at the top and on hood 1! (FIG. 2) that are picked up by suitable opposing arms 41, mounted on hood I0, so that the powered hood section I0 is adapted to either push or pull section 11 onto or off of the fourdrinier. Arm 41 picks up stop 39 when retracting and stop 38 when extending.

Hood A surrounds a conventional fourdrinier apparatus B which forms a continuous pulp web 42 being deposited on a foraminous belt 43 by the headbox 44. Water from the slurrious material is continually caught in a lower suitably positioned tray 46 and run therefrom to drain 47. The hood thus far explained is formed of two telescoping sections. Obviously a third may be interposed and made movable as an idler mounted section or a powered one as described with reference to section 11. Naturally its outside dimensions would have to be such to permit it to telescope either within or about the others. The idler mounted section ll can be powered as section I0 if found necessary. Also depending on the plant layout the sections can move away over the press section temporarily rather than past the headbox as shown. Again, depending on apparatus size the hood can be singular, movable either direction, being powered with reversible motors.

The air supply and venting exhaust ducts l and J (FIGS. 2 and 3) are carried in part on the telescoping hoods of enclosure A. Referring first to FIG. l4, fresh air is brought through the building wall E at the intake 51, passed through the heater S and then piped into stationary legs 52, 53 shown one beside the other. Heated, dry air is then run through the leg 52 which is also connected to a trunkline 54 mounted to hood and which can be separated from leg 52 through the separable connector 56. Trunkline 54 supplies two main manifolds 57, 58 mounted in and secured to the hoods 10, 11 and positioned adjacent the front walls thereof. Manifolds 57, 58 also supply the secondary manifolds S9, 61 via the short ducts 62, 63. The vapor-laden air is blown toward the rear of the hood sections by the supply air issuing from grilled outlets 64, 66', this is also better shown in FIGS. 7, 8. The air feeding manifold 58 is separated from trunkline 54 through the flexible and separable connector 67v Outlets 64, 66 are mounted through false ceilings 68, 69 of the enclosure which separate duct compartments from the 4 moisture-laden air K. Supply leg 53 connects to stationary manifold 71 which in turn supplies manifolds 72, 73 adjacent the front hood walls. Manifolds 72, 73 are supplied by trunk conduits 74, 76 mounted to hoods 10, ll. And, separating trunk conduits 74, 76 from the stationary manifold 71 are flexible and separate connectors 77, 78. Air leaves or exits from manifolds 72, 73 via grills 79, 8! to cool the atmosphere over the walkway along the front side of the fourdrinier. Moistureladen air K, then, is exhausted through building E wall by way of a matched fitting with exhaust duct 82. The air inlet and exhaust connections, and all others, are slidingly fitted through contact when in their operating positions. Being slidingly joined they can obviously, be separated or brought together without external assistance. The exhaust blower 83, in turn, is connected to trunkline 84 which is mounted to stationary exhaust manifold 86. The moist air from within the enclosure A is drawn out through grills 87, best shown in FIGS. 7 [4, into the manifold 86, through trunkline 84, the blower 83, and out to the atmosphere through exhaust] or the stack 82. The inlet will separate from the enclosure A when the section 10 moves under power, completely enveloping section ll to move both simultaneously clear of the fourdrinier area. The enclosure sections generally are provided with access doors l3 and inspection windows in their walls for viewing of the fourdrinier process from the exterior. The ventilation systems of this invention sweep the windows permitting one to clearly view the interior.

What I claim is:

1. An enclosure for the fourdrinier section of a papermaking machine comprising, at least two separate sections supported on wheels having a combined length that is generally equal to that of the fourdrinier section, each having a roof and sidewalls and the beginning and terminal sections including end portions for encompassing said fourdrinier section, side rails for supporting each enclosure section, wheels riding on said rails supporting each section, each enclosure section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another to form a single consolidated unit, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, contact means on one of said sections for enabling the powered section to move the unpowered one, air-distributing means in each separate section joinable to each other to form a common air supply conduit, air exhaust means for each section also joinable to form a common exhaust conduit, and a removable air intake and exhaust outlet in the roof portion of at least one movable enclosure section being adapted to he engaged or disengaged from fixed exterior units upon movement of the enclosure.

2. An enclosure for the fourdrinier section of a papermalc ing machine comprising, at least two separate sections supported on wheels having a combined length that is generally equal to that of the fourdrinier section, each having a roof and sidewalls and the beginning and terminal sections including end portions for encompassing said fourdrinier section, side rails for supporting each enclosure section, wheels riding on said rails supporting each section, each enclosure section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another to form a single consolidated unit, power means associated with each section for moving such section, air-distributing means in each separate section joinable by contact to each other to form a common air supply conduit, air exhaust means for each section also joinable by contact to form a common exhaust conduit, and a removable air intake and exhaust outlet in the roof portion of at least one movable enclosure section being adapted to be engaged or disengaged by contact from fixed exterior units upon movement of the enclosure.

3. An enclosure for the fourdrinier section of a papermalc ing machine comprising, at least two separate sections supported on wheels having a combined length that is generally equal to that of the fourdrinier section, each having a roof and sidewalls and the beginning and terminal sections including end portions for encompassing said fourdrinier section, side rails for supporting each enclosure section, wheels riding on said rails supporting each section, each enclosure section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another to form a single consolidated unit, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, contact means on one of said sections enabling the powered section to move the unpowered one, air-distributing means in each separate section slidingly joinable by contact to each other to form a common air supply conduit, air exhaust means for each section also slidingly joinable by contact to form a common exhaust conduit, and a removable air intake and exhaust outlet in the roof portion of at least one movable enclosure section being adapted to be slidingly engaged or disengaged from fixed exterior units by contact upon movement of the enclosure.

4. A movable enclosure for the stationary fourdrinier portion of a paper-manufacturing apparatus, said fourdrinier portion having fixed air supply means and air exhaust means as sociated therewith comprising, a plurality of separate sections supported on wheels, said sections having a combined length that is about equivalent to the fourdrinier portion, each section having a roof and two sidewalls at least one of which sidewall is movable and the beginning and terminal enclosure sections including ends for encompassing said fourdrinier portion, each section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another, air intake means in said enclosure engageahle with said air supply means, air outlet means in said enclosure cngageable with said air exhaust means, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, side rails extending the length of said fourdrinier section and beyond said section for supporting and guiding each enclosure section through said wheels riding thereon, whereby the enclosure in its operating position substantially encloses said fourdrinier portion, said air intake means engages said air supply means, said air exhaust means engages said air outlet means, and in its retracted position the separate sections are telescoped within each other beyond the position of said fourdrinier portion.

5. An enclosure for the fourdrinier portion of a papermanufacturing apparatus comprising, a plurality of separate sections supported on wheels, said sections having a combined length that is about equivalent to the fourdrinier portion, each section having a roof and two sidewalls, one sidewall being stationarily positioned along the length of the fourdrinier portion, and the roof and other sidewall being movable as a unit, and the beginning and terminal enclosure sections including ends for encompassing said fourdrinier portion, each section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, side rails extending the length of said fourdrinier section and beyond said section for supporting and guiding each enclosure section through said wheels riding thereon, whereby the enclosure in its operating position substantially encloses said fourdrinier portion, and in its retracted position the separate sections are telescoped within each other beyond the position of said fourdrinier portion.

6. An enclosure for the fourdrinier portion of a papermanufacturing apparatus comprising, a plurality of separate sections supported on wheels, said sections having a combined length that is about equivalent to the fourdrinier portion, each section having a roof and two sidewalls at least one of which sidewall is movable and the beginning and terminal enclosure sections including ends for encompassing said fourdrinier portion, each section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another, power means mounted on one enclosure section and coaction means provided on each section so that the 

1. An enclosure for the fourdrinier section of a papermaking machine comprising, at least two separate sections supported on wheels having a combined length that is generally equal to that of the fourdrinier section, each having a roof and sidewalls and the beginning and terminal sections including end portions for encompassing said fourdrinier section, side rails for supporting each enclosure section, wheels riding on said rails supporting each section, each enclosure section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another to form a single consolidated unit, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, contact means on one of said sections for enabling the powered section to move the unpowered one, air-distributing means in each separate section joinable to each other to form a common air supply conduit, air exhaust means for each section also joinable to form a common exhaust conduit, and a removable air intake and exhaust outlet in the roof portion of at least one movable enclosure section being adapted to be engaged or disengaged from fixed exterior units upon movement of the enclosure.
 2. An enclosure for the fourdrinier section of a papermaking machine comprising, at least two separate sections supported on wheels having a combined length that is generally equal to that of the fourdrinier section, each having a roof and sidewalls and the beginning and terminal sections including end portions for encompassing said fourdrinier section, side rails for supporting each enclosure section, wheels riding on said rails supporting each section, each enclosure section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another to form a single consolidated unit, power means associated with each section for moving such section, air-distributing means in each separate section joinable by contact to each other to form a common air supply conduit, air exhaust means for each section also joinable by contact to form a common exhaust conduit, and a removable air intake and exhaust outlet in the roof portion of at least one movable enclosure section being adapted to be engaged or disengaged by contact from fixed exterior units upon movement of the enclosure.
 3. An enclosure for the fourdrinier section of a papermaking machine comprising, at least two separate sections supported on wheels having a combined length that is generally equal to that of the fourdrinier section, each having a roof and sidewalls and the beginning and terminal sections including end portions for encompassing said fourdrinier section, side rails for supporting each enclosure section, wheels riding on said rails supporting each section, each enclosure section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another to form a single consolidated unit, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, contact means on one of said sections enabling the powered section to move the unpowered one, air-distributing means in each separate section slidingly joinable by contact to each other to form a common air supply conduit, air exhaust means for each section also slidingly joinable by contact to form a common exhaust conduit, and a removable air intake and exhaust outlet in the roof portion of at least one movable enclosure section being adapted to be slidingly engaged or disengaged from fixed exterior units by contact upon movement of the enclosure.
 4. A movable enclosure for the stationary fourdrinier portion of a paper-manufacturing apparatus, said fourdrinier portion having fixed air supply means and air exhaust means associated therewith comprising, a plurality of separate sections supported on wheels, said sections having a cOmbined length that is about equivalent to the fourdrinier portion, each section having a roof and two sidewalls at least one of which sidewall is movable and the beginning and terminal enclosure sections including ends for encompassing said fourdrinier portion, each section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another, air intake means in said enclosure engageable with said air supply means, air outlet means in said enclosure engageable with said air exhaust means, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, side rails extending the length of said fourdrinier section and beyond said section for supporting and guiding each enclosure section through said wheels riding thereon, whereby the enclosure in its operating position substantially encloses said fourdrinier portion, said air intake means engages said air supply means, said air exhaust means engages said air outlet means, and in its retracted position the separate sections are telescoped within each other beyond the position of said fourdrinier portion.
 5. An enclosure for the fourdrinier portion of a paper-manufacturing apparatus comprising, a plurality of separate sections supported on wheels, said sections having a combined length that is about equivalent to the fourdrinier portion, each section having a roof and two sidewalls, one sidewall being stationarily positioned along the length of the fourdrinier portion, and the roof and other sidewall being movable as a unit, and the beginning and terminal enclosure sections including ends for encompassing said fourdrinier portion, each section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another, power means associated with at least one section for moving such section, side rails extending the length of said fourdrinier section and beyond said section for supporting and guiding each enclosure section through said wheels riding thereon, whereby the enclosure in its operating position substantially encloses said fourdrinier portion, and in its retracted position the separate sections are telescoped within each other beyond the position of said fourdrinier portion.
 6. An enclosure for the fourdrinier portion of a paper-manufacturing apparatus comprising, a plurality of separate sections supported on wheels, said sections having a combined length that is about equivalent to the fourdrinier portion, each section having a roof and two sidewalls at least one of which sidewall is movable and the beginning and terminal enclosure sections including ends for encompassing said fourdrinier portion, each section differing in dimension to allow telescoping within another, power means mounted on one enclosure section and coaction means provided on each section so that the powered section can move all sections between their operating position substantially enclosing said fourdrinier portion and their retracted position wherein the sections are telescoped within each other beyond the position of the fourdrinier portion, side rails extending the length of said fourdrinier section and beyond said section for supporting and guiding each enclosure section through said wheels riding thereon, whereby the enclosure in its operating position substantially encloses said fourdrinier portion, and in its retracted position the separate sections are telescoped within each other beyond the position of said fourdrinier portion. 